Structural unit



Feb. 16, 1954 M. E.'c. KLosE STRUCTURAL UNIT 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 1.949

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M. E. c. KLosE STRUCTURAL UNIT Feb. v16, 1.954

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1949 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED E. c. Klose, Manitowoo, Wis.; Holen Klose admnstratrix of said. Milton E. G. Klose, d'-

ceased Apollonio@ Februar-ry 26, 1949. serrano. rases invention relates to any improved struc: tllrel unitjfor .use in doors, partitions, panels, t'hlfleiilfe- Y p IIllas'much as the unit is particularly ,adapted iol' use in doors, the invention will be V'olesoriloleol 5 ndtail with reference toa panel 'door construction- However, it ,will be understood that the unit is also adapted `for .other analogous Vor reiateistruotural ,usesy Chas in wall panels .or partitions., aircraft, boats. and fornitore. lo 4, Hollow panel constructions vcom'plinio-lle; la Wood i an mth PlYWQQd fatina members Y glued to osite .sides thereof are used extensively in .the strooi-,oral arts .booaoso or their ,decided advan- 11"' s over metal ,or soli w, orgels. Hollow l1,5 L els'lof this character arefstro durable, and relatively .light in Weihtarid have Superior ,i111- properties with resoeot to the transmissionof heat andeound- `liultlflerrnone suoli oonions are more eeonomioal to manufacture, ,gg l'niridla` and transport..

nrorld'ed with e eelllllger ,Cere er lll- 1er eemp ns liee-11?eerl'defintereona ted- ,-eesenleoesollell eis ,lt/oeil, bers. el Sir e `e f ne' fill oi this tree increases the stre l of the door and, dependent up #osare to .elf ,of reu/ille, moisture ,colin Y. weer. to i ith, l minimize er. eveiel reine deelreele delermetlenor the door, nes teer-1 Roomse@ l0 .prei/ide Ventilating holes or o her @milles ino-the ame and thro eh .ot theA er afherehvtoperm epassaseofnairanel rooietore between the terior or the panel -anol the ell-telele atmosphere e l have ioiirdtlletalllleueli it :is desirable to enioloyareinforeins iilleroreore' the'interior 249 ,i elle .helle-W.. Dell-el tine ,ere er strength to the panel :and :tor :tesis riginal-.1 pressures-ordinarily employed iu-rios elaine of plywood gsftogllle irarne, the intereelsrlds one other-liner arrangements-nievrously proposed ere ,-subiel te serious :disadvanf Y' herethelglerioomv l interne aeeteel 2 elements is also attached orsecured to the frame comprising -part of the door structure, the rigidity rof the door is Afurther increased.

'Such 'extreme rigidity is undesirable in maniT applications of this type of structural unit. For example, in the manufacture o f cabinets for use inllaboratories, offices, stores, and gnomes, -sliding doors of the nosh panel type construction herelllbefore described are oornmonly employed- These doors are slioleblv .mounted in elongated grooves or tracks secured to `Athe ,door Casillas 0.1 other portions of the .olebinetorl either Side of theiioors. ,Lf the loor .isof ,slloh reid and nonresilient oonstruotionas to preclude even a minor degree of flexing,V it will Joe seen that `the slide traoksmu'st -.be .exact alignment with each other or with ,the edges ,of the door in order to avoid binding and insure easy sliding operation of the door.

Accordingly, ,the general object of my invention is to provide a structural unit of the class described which possesses the required structural also characterized by a certain degree rof olas-f tieity and resinency pennitting limited nonnel of the unit during Suso thereof. A ,A further ,object ,of .the invention is to provid a hollow panel door Structure in which the door is A,suloiontly resilient to conform V,under relativelyslieht pressure to a misaliened door .easing or other cooperating structure. l

,Another object of the invention is to provide a structuralunit of the class describedwhich contains `a plurality of lindependent ller ele-` ments vhaving no rigid connections with each other or with the fframe. Y

Another .object olf the invention is to provide a structural S11-nit .of the class described in which a plurality ,of independent filler elements are' l'retained in predetermined spaced arrangement during assembly ,off the unit. Y ,Sti-ll another object of the invention is to Aprof vide, a structural unitof the class described, novel means for linternally Ventilating the including a yplu1. ality .of independent spaced nller elements in the interiorof the .unit and an opening .through the frame which vcomprises part of a joint structure of the Irame.

upper left hand corner of the door shown in Fig. 1, portions of the front facing being broken away to show the internal construction of the door;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a filler element, of the type employed in Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating the manner in which the element is attached to a positioning means comprising wire netting;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a corner of the door showing one method by which the frame members may be secured together;

Fig. 5 is an edge view looking downwardly along the lines 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational View similar to Fig. i but showing a modied method of joining the frame members;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Figs. 4 and 6 but showing still another method of joining the frame members;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View similar to Fig. 2 but showing a iiller assembly employing a different type of nller element;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of a filler element of the type seen in Fig. 8; and

Fig. le is a cross-sectional View of the filler element taken along the lines i--Iii of Fig. 9.

Referring rst to Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the door structure shown therein for purposes of illustrating one specific embodiment of my invention cornprises a pair of elongated wood stiles It connected by means of a pair of upper and lower wood rails il' to form a frame indicated generally at IS. Secured to opposite sides of the frame I8 are plywood iacings or panel members i9 each consisting of a plurality of plies. In the case illustrated three plies are shown. Relatively thin metal panel members may also be used ii desired. The panel members iB are preferably sen cured to the iraine i3 by means oi glue or other suitable adhesive material, as hereinafter described. A pair of mounting blocks 2i are secured to the inner side oi each of the Stiles le in order to facilitate the mounting of locks or other hardware.

Disposed within the interior space enclosed by the frame I8 and the panel members i9 is a filler assembly or core comprising a plurality of independent elongated rectangular wood blocks 22. These blocks are distributed in predetermined spaced relationship throughout the space between the panel members i9, the blocks having the same thickness as the frame i8. As seen in Fig. 2, the blocks 22 are preferably arranged in laterally spaced rows with the blocks staggered both horizontally and vertically and with the opposite ends of each block in each row extending slightly beyond the ends of the blocks in adjacent row This overlapping relationship of the blocks 22 eliminates vertical lines of potential weakness which might be present if the ends of the blocks were aligned. The elongated blocks 22 are also preferably arranged so that the long dimension of each block extends generally parallel to the short dimension of the door,V thereby further increasing the strength of the door.

In order to provide maximum structural strength and resistance to the eiects of warpage of the wood, the blocks 22 have their grain running lengthwise vtherein and the innermost ply, indicated at 23 in Fig. 2, of each of the panel members i9 is disposed with its grain running at substantially right angles to ther grain of the blocks 22. Each of the succeeding plies, indicated at 24 and 26, respectively, have their grains vrun- 4 ning at substantially right angles to the grain of the adjacent plies.

As hereinbefore referred to, an important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the blocks 22 are completely independent and have no rigid connections with each other or with the frame I 8. The blocks 22 are rigidly secured, preferably by glue, on opposite sides thereof only to the inner faces of the panel members I9. By thus employing a core composed of completely independent and unattached filler elements distributed in predetermined arrangement to impart maximum structural strength to the unit, I obtain a door construction which will still permit a limited degree of iiexing or planar distortion in order to conform to any slight misalignment or misshaping of the door casing or other surrounding structure which cooperates with the door during its use.

In order to facilitate the positioning of the blocks 22 in the desired spaced arrangement, based upon considerations of structural strength, and in order to retain the blocks in the desired arrangement during assembly of the unit, I employ a positioning means which in this instance (Figs. 1 to 3) comprises a section oi wire mesh or netting 2i cut to 'fit snugly within the frame It. The netting 2l may conveniently comprise ordinary galvanized chicken Wire or poultry netting although, of course, other types of netting or mesh fabric having similar properties may also be employed. Each of the elongated blocks 22 is provided with grooves in the form of a pair of spaced transverse slots or incisions 28 (Fig. 3), the slots being engageable with adjacent strands of the Wire netting 2 to retain each of the blocks in position on the netting. The slots 28 are relatively narrow in order to frictionally engage the wire strands and are preferably adapted to receive relatively thicker strands of the netting such as the portions indicated at 2? (Fig. 3) and comprising two adjacent wire strands twisted together. The section of netting 2l may be inserted within the frame I8 with its edges merely in abutment or frictional engagement with the inside of the frame. or, if desired, the netting may be secured to the frame.

In assembling a door construction of this character, the inner face of one of the panel members I9 may iirst be coated with glue or other suitable adhesive and the frame I8 is then mounted against the glue-coated side of the panel member with the edges of the panel member and the frame in flush relationship. A section of wire poultry netting 2I is cut to the size required to t within the frame I8. rIhe blocks 22 are then attached to the piece of netting 2l by means of the slots 28, the blocks 22 preferably being arranged in rows on the netting as seen in Fig. 2, with the blocks staggered horizontally and vertically, with opposite ends of each block in overlapping relationship with the ends of the blocks in adjacent rows, and with the longitudinal grain of the blocks running at right angles to the grain of the innermost ply of the panel member I9 in the manner hereinbefore described. The section of netting 21 with the blocks 22 attached thereto is placed within the frame I8 with the blocks in contact withrthe glue-coated surface of the panel member I9. A second panel member is then coated with glue and mounted on the opposite side of the frame in contact with the frame and blocks and With the grain of the innermost ply of the panel member also running at right nangles to the longitudinal grain '.Vidd with a mortis@ 30 and the rail {"Ij .the i-tesi? e@ hasta so, me. er me' sectes sans nem-terrine w netting 2T YservesV t0 llol the' blocks '2`2v against Figs` to '1 inclusive, illust te several alterfiltlive' methods of joining together the stiles lII' and the rails I1 whichtogether comprise' lthe frame I8. Figs. 4 and 5 the stile `IIis pro- -pro vided with a" complementary 'tenori 3 I' arranged to iit securely'within the mortise y3Il. The mortise "'33 overc'ut bothtransversely and longitudinally of the stile I6 whereby te provide a ventilatirlg aperture 32 communicatingv between the interior of the frame I8 and the outside atmosphere. Thus, by means of the vventilating aperture comprising the overcut mortise and the completely independent and spaced relationship of the filler blocks y22, my invnt-ion'provdes for free circulation of air and moisture between the interior of the door and the outside atmosphere, Figs. 6 and '1 illustrate slightly different methods of joining the Stiles I6 to the rails I1. In Fig. 6 the stile I6 and the rail I1 abut at right angles and are secured by means of a pair of corrugated metal fastening elements 33. In this instance a ventilating hole 34 is provided through the rail I1. In Fig. 7 the ends of the stile I6 and the rail I1 are mitered to provide for angular abutment, the two members also being secured by means of corrugated fasteners 33 or other similar devices. In this form the rail I1 is also provided with a Ventilating hole 34.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, there is illustrated a different form of Wood ller block for use in conjunction with a wire netting in the same general manner as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In this form of the invention the ller element comprises a cylindrical wood block 36 having a hollow interior 31. The axial height of the blocks 36 is, of course, the same as the thickness of the frame I8. Each of the blocks 36 is provided with a central circumferential groove 38 for receiving and engaging the wire strands of the netting. As seen in Fig. 8, the cylindrical blocks 36 are inserted in the hexagonal openings of the wire netting 21 with the strands of wire being received in the grooved portions 38 and being distorted slightly to conform to the circular shape of the blocks 36. Each of the blocks 36 is also provided with a pair of transverse vent holes 39 extending radially from the hollow interior 31 to the outer cylindrical surface in order to permit free passage of air and moisture between the interior and exterior of the blocks. The method of assembling the unit in the case of the cylindrical blocks is generally the same as described above in connection with the elongated rectangular blocks, the panel members I9 being glued to the opposite axial ends of the cylindrical blocks 36.

As previously pointed out, the structural unit herein described has a considerable advantage over the structural units of this general type which have previously been proposed because of the complete absence of rigid connections between the individual filler elements and also between the ller elements and the frame. The

'dimension thereof under Vwarrlnng conditions.

'coop a ng In add 't e strrctur'ail unit comprising my inv.entlori'` also possessesrviitler `imp tantadvantages; The use of 'a number of email indeli pendentY ller elements instead ofthe larger in# terconnected grid members heretofore' employed ,ism'ore' economicaljsince these small pie may l cutl from lumber which would f'nrdi'narily jbe wasted` Furthermore, be' e the filler ele'- mentsv are reiative'ly'small the effect er ,changes in ,moisture coment aus ,waiting of the filler' 'elements' 'is mininaed: Filler elements formed from relatively wide stripshofl woodt vtend to bow 6r' archponsiderably across the short Obviously, such bowing 'or arching'is avoidedby 'use or the relatively narrow, rectangular filler bl'ocls'or the cylindricalK lle'r' bloclis'- described .abovc'efv Also', wherethe iiiler f'elciirlue'ntsare rigidly attached tor each other, as in thev grid type iiil-'rs of the prior' art, the warpage and strain of each filler element is transmittedto the other l-ements, and the cumulative eiectiof suohgwarp'- age 'may produce bowing' or archi the entire grid or 'lleias'sembly resulting in'distortio of the entire door.

In many cases the use of a plurality of independent ller blocks instead of the bulky interconnected grids of the prior art results in a substantial reduction in the weight of the completed unit. Moreover, the use of a plurality of filler elements permits considerable variation in arrangement of the elements in the interior of the door to obtain different degrees of structural strength and durability dependent upon the ultimate use of the unit. I have also found that a core comprising a large number of independent ller blocks is well adapted to withstand the relatively high pressures to which structural units of this type may be subjected in many hot gluing presses.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect to only a few specic embodiments, it will be understood that various modifications and equivalent structures may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A structural unit of the class described comprising a frame, panel members secured to opposite sides of said frame, a plurality of filler elements disposed in predetermined spaced arrangement within the space enclosed by said frame and panel members, and a section of nonrigid netting within said space interengaged with said ller elements for positioning the latter in said spaced arrangement during assembly of the unit, each of said iiller elements having no rigid connection with the other elements or with said frame and being rigidly secured only to said panel members.

2. A structural unit of the class described comprising a frame, panel members secured to opposite sides of said frame, and a ller assembly in the space enclosed by said frame and panel members, said ller assembly comprising a section of non-rigid netting and a plurality of independent wood blocks each disposed in engagement with the mesh of said netting whereby to position said blocks in predetermined 4. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said blocks have an elongated shape with the grain running lengthwise therein, said panels are ply Wood panels, and the innermost ply of each panel has its grain running substantially at right angles to the length of said blocks.

5..The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said blocks have a cylindrical shape extending axially between said panel members.

6. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said blocks comprise hollow cylindrical blocks extending axially between said panel members and being radially apertured to Vpermit passage of air and moisture between the outside and the hollow interior of the blocks.

7. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said frame is apertured for per- 8 mitting freecirculation of air and moisture between the outside atmosphere and the interior of the unit whereby to retard warpage of the same.

MILTON E. C. KLOSE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,356,764 Henderson V Oct. 26, 1920 1,969,291 Antoni Aug. 7, 1934 2,089,550 Hacker Aug. 10, 1937 2,108,479 Elmendorf Feb. 15, 1938 2,199,938 Kloote May 7, 1940 2,288,104 Pasquier June 30, 1942 2,375,910 Forward May 15, 1945 2,385,352 Davis Sept. 25, 1945 2,460,848 Rover Feb. 8, 1949 2,479,870 Rundquist Aug. 23, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number v Country Date 748,501 France Apr. 18, 1933 46,248 France a Jan. 18, 1936 (Addition to 784,249)

539,789 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1941 553,254 Great Britain May 13, 1943 

